Mounting system for vehicle underride

Abstract

A mounting mechanism for mounting an underride system on a structure, comprises a pair of clamping jaws, and a first bracket including a first edge for coupling the underride system thereto. The first bracket further includes a second edge for coupling the pair of clamping jaws thereto. Wherein, the first bracket and the pair of clamping jaws define a jaw opening therebetween configured to receive at least a portion of the structure for removably mounting the underride system on the structure using the mounting mechanism.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A mounting mechanism for mounting an underride system on a structure, the mounting mechanism comprising:
 a first pair of clamping jaws; 
 a first bracket including a first edge for coupling the underride system thereto and 
 a second edge for coupling the first pair of clamping jaws thereto; 
 a second pair of clamping jaws; 
 a second bracket including a first edge for coupling the underride system thereto and a second edge for coupling the second pair of clamping jaws thereto; 
 wherein the first bracket and second bracket and the first pair of clamping jaws and second pair of clamping jaws define a jaw opening therebetween configured to receive at least a portion of the structure for removably mounting the underride system on the structure using the mounting mechanism. 
 
     
     
       2. The mounting mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein:
 at least one of the clamping jaws is rotatably attached to the first bracket to allow adjusting the jaw opening for receiving at least a portion of the structure. 
 
     
     
       3. The mounting mechanism of  claim 2 , wherein:
 each of the clamping jaws is rotatably attached to the first bracket to allow adjusting the jaw opening for receiving at least a portion of the structure. 
 
     
     
       4. The mounting mechanism of  claim 2 , wherein:
 each clamping jaw includes an attachment portion for attaching the clamping jaw to the first bracket; 
 each clamping jaw further includes a tip potion; and 
 the mounting mechanism further includes an adjustable fastening mechanism for urging the tip portions of the clamping jaws toward one another when the mounting mechanism is mounted on said structure. 
 
     
     
       5. The mounting mechanism of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a clearance reduction system configured for reducing clearance between at least the first bracket and the structure when the mounting mechanism is mounted on said structure. 
 
     
     
       6. The mounting system of  claim 1 , wherein the underride system is moveable and can be rotatably attached to the first bracket. 
     
     
       7. The mounting mechanism of  claim 2 ,
 wherein the first bracket is spaced relative to the second bracket, and each clamping jaw is coupled to the first bracket and the second bracket such that a portion of each clamping jaw is maintained in said space between the first bracket and second bracket. 
 
     
     
       8. The mounting mechanism of  claim 7 , wherein:
 each of the clamping jaws is rotatably attached to the brackets to allow adjusting the jaw opening for receiving at least a portion of the structure. 
 
     
     
       9. The mounting mechanism of  claim 7 , wherein:
 each clamping jaw includes an attachment portion for attaching the clamping jaw to the brackets; 
 each clamping jaw further includes a tip potion; and 
 the mounting mechanism further includes an adjustable fastening mechanism for urging the tip portions of the clamping jaws toward one another when the mounting mechanism is mounted on said structure. 
 
     
     
       10. The mounting mechanism of  claim 2 , wherein the underride system comprises:
 an underride member; and 
 a linkage mechanism for rotatably coupling the underride member to the first bracket, wherein the linkage mechanism moves the underride member between an extended position and a retracted position. 
 
     
     
       11. The mounting mechanism of  claim 10 , wherein:
 in the extended position the underride member is at a first distance from the structure, and in the retracted position the underride is at a second distance from the structure, such that the first distance is larger than the second distance. 
 
     
     
       12. A lift gate system, comprising:
 a lift platform for mounting to a structure via a lift linkage mechanism; 
 an underride system for coupling on the structure; 
 a mounting mechanism for mounting the underride system on the structure, the mounting mechanism comprising:
 a pair of clamping jaws; 
 a first bracket including a first edge for coupling the underride system thereto and 
 a second edge for coupling the pair of clamping jaws thereto; 
 a second bracket coupled in parallel with the first bracket, the second bracket including a first edge for coupling the underride system thereto and a second edge for coupling the pair of clamping jaws thereto; 
 wherein the first bracket is spaced relative to the second bracket, and each clamping jaw is coupled to the first bracket and the second bracket such that a portion of each clamping jaw is maintained in said space between the first bracket and second bracket; 
 wherein the brackets and the pair of clamping jaws define a jaw opening therebetween configured to receive at least a portion of the structure for removably mounting the underride system on the structure using the mounting mechanism; 
 wherein the underride system is moveable and is rotatably attached to the first bracket. 
 
 
     
     
       13. The lift gate system of  claim 12 , wherein:
 each of the clamping jaws is rotatably attached to the first bracket to allow adjusting the jaw opening for receiving at least a portion of the structure. 
 
     
     
       14. The lift gate system of  claim 13 , wherein:
 each clamping jaw includes an attachment portion for attaching the clamping jaw to the first bracket; 
 each clamping jaw further includes a tip potion; and 
 the mounting mechanism further includes an adjustable fastening mechanism for urging the tip portions of the clamping jaws toward one another when the mounting mechanism is mounted on said structure. 
 
     
     
       15. The lift gate system of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a clearance reduction system configured for reducing clearance between at least the first bracket and the structure when the mounting mechanism is mounted on said structure. 
 
     
     
       16. The lift gate system of  claim 14 , wherein:
 each of the clamping jaws is rotatably attached to the brackets to allow adjusting the jaw opening for receiving at least a portion of the structure; 
 each clamping jaw includes an attachment portion for attaching the clamping jaw to the brackets; 
 each clamping jaw further includes a tip potion; and 
 the mounting mechanism further includes an adjustable fastening mechanism for urging the tip portions of the clamping jaws toward one another when the mounting mechanism is mounted on said structure. 
 
     
     
       17. The lift gate system of  claim 14 , wherein the underride system comprises:
 an underride member; and 
 a linkage mechanism for rotatably coupling the underride member to the first bracket, wherein the linkage mechanism moves the underride member between an extended position and a retracted position. 
 
     
     
       18. The lift gate system of  claim 17 , wherein:
 in the extended position the underride member is at a first distance from the structure, and in the retracted position the underride is at a second distance from the structure, such that the first distance is larger than the second distance. 
 
     
     
       19. A lift gate system, comprising:
 a lift platform mounted to a vehicle frame via a lift linkage mechanism; 
 an underride system coupled to the vehicle frame via at least one mounting mechanism; 
 the mounting mechanism comprising:
 a pair of clamping jaws; 
 a first bracket including a first edge for coupling the underride system thereto and 
 a second edge for coupling the pair of clamping jaws thereto; and 
 a second bracket, coupled in parallel with the first bracket, the second bracket including a first edge for coupling the underride system thereto, and a second edge for coupling the pair of clamping jaws thereto; 
 wherein the first bracket is spaced relative to the second bracket, and each clamping jaw is coupled to the first bracket and the second bracket such that a portion of each clamping jaw is maintained in said space between the first bracket and second bracket; 
 wherein the brackets and the pair of clamping jaws define a jaw opening therebetween configured to receive at least a portion of the frame for removably mounting the underride system on the frame using the mounting mechanism; and 
 wherein the underride system is moveable and is rotatably attached to the first bracket. 
 
 
     
     
       20. The lift gate system of  claim 19 , wherein:
 each of the clamping jaws is rotatably attached to the first bracket to allow adjusting the jaw opening for receiving at least a portion of the frame; 
 each clamping jaw includes an attachment portion for attaching the clamping jaw to the first bracket; 
 each clamping jaw further includes a tip potion; and 
 the mounting mechanism further includes an adjustable fastening mechanism for urging the tip portions of the clamping jaws toward one another when the mounting mechanism is mounted on said frame. 
 
     
     
       21. The lift gate system of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 a clearance reduction system configured for reducing clearance between at least the first bracket and the frame when the mounting mechanism is mounted on said frame. 
 
     
     
       22. The lift gate system of  claim 20 , wherein:
 each of the clamping jaws is rotatably attached to the brackets to allow adjusting the jaw opening for receiving at least a portion of the frame; 
 each clamping jaw includes an attachment portion for attaching the clamping jaw to the brackets; 
 each clamping jaw further includes a tip potion; and 
 the mounting mechanism further includes an adjustable fastening mechanism for urging the tip portions of the clamping jaws toward one another when the mounting mechanism is mounted on said frame. 
 
     
     
       23. The lift gate system of  claim 20 , wherein the underride system comprises:
 an underride member; and 
 a linkage mechanism for rotatably coupling the underride member to the first bracket, wherein the linkage mechanism moves the underride member between an extended position and a retracted position. 
 
     
     
       24. The lift gate system of  claim 23 , wherein:
 in the extended position the underride member is at a first distance from the frame, and in the retracted position the underride is at a second distance from the frame, such that the first distance is larger than the second distance.